Antarctica cannot help but to have a powerful effect on you. It is not just the beauty or unimaginably large landscapes; it is the reconnection to nature in its rawest form.
The land of Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton is now accessible to those who want to tread in their footsteps without risking their actual toes to the cold, as White Desert entertains small groups at their luxury camps, providing a deep sense of space and discovery. From emperor penguins to the geographic South Pole, iridescent ice tunnels and the seemingly endless High Polar Plateau — this is the final frontier on this planet we call home.
And we can’t wait to share it with you….
Journeying to Antarctica may seem crazy to most, but this inhospitable continent is now an option to adventure through in the most splendid comfort.
White Desert has three main camps on Antarctica; Wolf’s Fang, Whichaway and Echo.
Whichaway is the flagship camp and sits on the shores of one of the freshwater lakes of the ice-free Schirmacher Oasis.
The camp features six heated ‘polar pods’ with cutting-edge exteriors and old-world interiors that conjure up images of Antarctica’s rich heritage of exploration.
Each guest pod has a large glass-front conservatory, framing uninterrupted views of the dramatic ice landscape beyond. This new addition offers a warm, protected setting from which guests can take in the panoramic view of the lake and the encircling ice fall from the comfort of their duvet. Each of the six polar pods has its own ensuite shower, offering enhanced privacy – a first for Antarctica.
Savour gourmet meals prepared by your private chef, enjoy a sauna with a view of the glacier, take a moment in the wellness dome, and cross off bucket list adventures like visiting the South Pole, ice climbing, hiking over ice waves, and coming face-to-face with 28,000 emperor penguins.
Inspired by the seminal age of Space exploration, Echo Camp sits in quiet solitude encircled by pitted rock formations. Echo is as close as you can get to feeling like you’re off the planet without leaving Earth.
The space-age design of the ‘Sky Pods’ makes them look like they’ve been beamed down from Mars. Futuristic and luxurious, the six bedrooms are created from composite material with floor to ceiling windows allowing guests to soak in the moon-like landscape beyond.
Original photos taken from the International Space Station (ISS) by former Commander, White Desert guest and retired astronaut, colonel Terry Virts will be featured in each pod. Says Virts of the Echo landscape,
“The mountains are the most beautiful I have seen across Earth, Venus and Mars.”
Perfect for exclusive-use groups and catering for up to 12 people, Echo allows guests to combine an ultra-luxury experience with a once in lifetime adventure on the 7th Continent. As with all White Desert’s camps, Echo is designed to be dismantled, leaving no trace on the Antarctic landscape.
Offering laidback yet sophisticated interiors that evoke the bygone age of explorers, Wolf’s Fang features six heated bedroom tents that are equipped with en-suite washrooms, replete with shower rooms. The relaxed lounge area is a haven of comfort and warmth, no matter what the conditions outside. The inviting dining area is the ideal space to revisit the day’s exploration with fellow adventurers.
Adrenalin seekers will enjoy a variety of exhilarating activities on this vast continent including abseiling, ice-climbing and rope-walks. Guests looking for peace and serenity will revel in gentle hikes, skidoo rides or simply taking in the dramatic vistas – guests can be as active or as relaxed as they wish during their stay.
Antarctica once seemed like the moon as far as visiting went – in that it would be impossible to get there for all but a few souls – but with flights to the White Desert camps out of Cape Town, South Africa suddenly turning this incredible landscape into an actual travel destination, it’s well within the bounds of possibility that you could visit too!
Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com to start chatting about your polar safari…!
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